Hezbollah claims missile strike on Israeli warship, 54 killed in Lebanon

Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for a missile strike targeting an Israeli military vessel off the Lebanese coast, amid escalating cross-border hostilities.

In a statement, the Iran-backed group said it fired a naval cruise missile at a warship positioned about 68 nautical miles from Lebanon, alleging the vessel was preparing to launch attacks on Lebanese territory.

Hezbollah claimed a direct hit following hours of surveillance.

Israel has not immediately confirmed the incident, with some international reports citing Israeli military sources as saying they were unaware of such an attack.

Meanwhile, violence in Lebanon continues to intensify. At least 54 people were killed and 156 others injured in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

The latest fatalities bring the death toll to 1,422 since renewed clashes erupted on March 2, with more than 4,200 people injured. Israeli airstrikes and ground operations remain ongoing in southern Lebanon despite a ceasefire declared in November 2024.

Separately, the Israeli military said one of its soldiers was killed and another was seriously wounded during operations in southern Lebanon late Saturday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described the incident as “friendly fire” during an operation in the Shebaa area.